White Christmas
Episode 1
I should introduce our school first.
Those who aren't students or parents have all heard of Susin High.
It's a independent private school with the top 0.1% students.
1st for the national student ability rankings 3 years in a row.
1st for entrance into Seoul National University for 5 consecutive years.
They've forbidden all other activities aside from studying.
Like a race horse whose eyes have blinders on the sides,
we're forced to race ahead and all other types of education are banned.
If we shouldn't judge students based on their grades, then how?
Singing? Dancing? Running?
A secluded area where every student is a boarder.
Holidays are handed over and parents visit minimally.
You could almost call it punishment.
A famous architect used the Louvre in France as a model and designed this glass pyramid in the mountains.
We live inside there. We call it the 3 year Alcatraz.
We must be proud that we have been selected.
We must live here for 4 years while being afraid of failure.
This is the principal.
December 24th current time is exactly 3 p.m.
The official holiday of Susin High has now begun.
We always prepare for the future and live for tomorrow.
But once every year, we allow freedom.
You are free for 8 days.
Enjoy it and let's meet again.
Then we will work hard for another year. That's all.
December 24th, Christmas Eve.
The only vacation of the year... The 8 days of break have begun.
And...
the story I'm about to tell is about my fight with a monster.
I had to become a monster myself for 8 days to fight it.
[The Face of Reception] [Cultural Ministry Award 7th Graduation Student Choi Hyo In]
[Phil's Award Awardee 2nd Graduate Student Kim Min Hee] [President's Award 9th Graduate Student Choi In Hwan]
I kept thinking about it. When did it all begin?
You tainted me, made me pitiful.
You made me a monster in the corner.
You silenced me.
You ridiculed my false hopes.
You took the only thing I had and put it around your neck.
I held out my hand and you let go.
You deleted me from your eyes.
Finally, you overtook me.
Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year.
After 8 days, walk up the path by the zelkova tree.
Under the clock tower, you will see someone dead.
The night that Jesus was born, I curse you.
Those unfortunate souls remaining in school, report to the cafereria now.
I repeat... The weak, foolish 7 students who have remained... report to the cafereria right now.
The teacher said he needed these.
The date is Christmas Eve, December 24th.
The time is 6:12 p.m. The location is the cafeteria.
Park Moo Yul, the student that all the parents want as their son-in-law.
The prettiest girl in Susin, Yoon Eun Sung.
And...
Lee Jae Kyu? 2nd year, class 1?
He will introduce himself.
A new member has arrived.
The angel Gabriel of Susin, Yoon Su.
Yoon su, say something.
Thank you for those words.
Who else? Who is it?
2nd year, class 1, Choi Chi Hoon.
Isn't he really something?
Where is the teacher?
He went to get something.
Now... Is there one more person?
The final 7th member of Christmas.
-If I had known he was here, I would've just gone home. -Hey, friends!
Were you waiting for me?
Are you all here?
2,4,6,7. Okay.
Are you the teacher staying? I tought it was the English teacher.
I don't have a girlfriend or family, so I was asked to change.
-What a cruel world. -13 cars crashed on Yeongjong Highway.
Ladies first.
This wine is a 2002 Chateau...
Anyway... It's an expensive red wine I bought for $32 on the internet.
This wine is like my blood.
I never imagined that I'd be pouring it for you guys.
You'd better not tell anyone that I served you alcohol.
I can promise, but I don't know about this model of good behavior.
It's Christmas.
Thank you.
Good.
I must've done something terrible in a past life.
That's why I'm spending the last Christmas of my 20s with you.
Oh?
Are you only 29 years old?
You look way over 35.
Shut it. Anyway, you're stuck with me.
Let's enjoy ourselves for the next 8 days. Cheers.
I'm being punished for a past life. Why didn't you kids go home?
If I go home, my stepfather keeps looking at my butt.
He walks in when I'm in the shower.
I was just joking!
Shouln't the audience be entertained rather than the comedian?
-Are you going to study? -Are you crazy?
They say you get cursed if you study during winter vacation.
-Did you know about that too? -Of course.
It's my heart.
Do you know how that story began?
Why you won't make it into university if you study on Christmas?
On sound effects... Jo Young Jae.
I heard from the maintenance staff. The bald man in charge.
The year was 1999. Exactly 11 years ago.
Christmas Eve.
It was just before the new millennium. There was a real buzz.
You were all too young back then to remember it.
Anyway, everyone went home and only 1 female student remained.
All by herself in this huge school.
-What about the teacher who stayed? -Teacher?
Yes...
If a student chose to remain, they were responsible for themselves.
That was the rule.
Anyway, because of that incident, if a student remains at school...
A teacher must also remain now. The rules were changed.
Listen to this story.
Even on Christmas Eve, she studied until late at night.
She got tired and went to the 2nd floor break room for coffee.
She was humming to herself while the coffee brewed.
But something felt strange. The hair on her back stood up.
So she lowered her voice.
But the singing got louder.
From behind her.
From the empty corridor, the singing got gradually louder.
What is it?
Are you all right? Can you walk?
-Excuse me... -Can I have some water?
Yes.
119? This is Susin High.
Yes, we have someone who's been in a car accident.
Thanks.
They want to know how bad it is.
I walked all the way here. I don't think anything is broken.
I hurt my forehead a little bit.
He doesn't have any broken bones, but he hurt his forehead.
He's perfectly conscious.
Yes...
Excuse me?
-Any comapny? -I was alone.
There wasn't anyone else. Thank you.
-What did they say? -They can't come right now.
There was an accident on the highway. They said call back if it gets worse.
Is there anyone else you can call? Any family or friends?
[Oh Jung Hye 010-4728-6048]
Yoon Eun Sung, you must be scared.
There's a ghost in the girl's dorm. A humming ghost.
This school became a coed school in 2001.
-What? -There were no girls in 1999.
Funny?
-What's going on? -There was a car accident.
Stop it. It won't work if water gets inside.
I know, It's weak against water and magnets too.
We tested it before.
We took out your fake ear and stuck it on a magnetic rod.
I don't know why I'm so full of curiosity.
I lived in silence for a week thanks to you.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for everything. I'll apologize. Forgive me.
-What do you want? -Forgive me, please?
Please... I'd forgive me if I were you.
What do you want?
As you live life, some things displease you from time to time.
I may just be joking, but you may get hurt.
Then all we have to do is say sorry and forgive each other.
We can use words. How dare you send this?
It's not me. I mean it.
Listen to me, it wasn't me.
Geez!
Curse me? I'll kill you.
I already have so many penalties. I could get suspended.
Your head?
See how much I care for you? How dare you send such a letter?
I didn't send it to you!
Don't lie to me. Who else would it be?
Who out of the other 5? Park Moo Yul? Choi Chi Hoon?
It has to be you!
I got the same letter too.
What? What's going on?
Why don't you listen to me?
-Who is it then? -Hey...
I got one too.
Did you get one too?
What? It's spam mail then?
Who dares to play such a sick joke like this?
The teacher said the safety level has been changed.
I should've just gone home.
Do you think it's a joke?
Of course. I thought so from the beginning.
Why did you stay behind then?
Well... I'm a journalist, right?
Do you really think it's a joke?
Or did they make a fake in order to hide the truth?
When did it all go wrong?
You tainted me, made me pitiful.
You made me a monster in the corner.
You silenced me.
You ridiculed my false hopes.
You took the only thing I had and put it around your neck.
I held out my hand and you let go.
You should've told me you weren't coming home.
You deleted me from your eyes.
Finally, you overtook me.
After 8 days, walk up the path by zelkova tree.
Under the clock tower, you will see someone dead.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The night that Jesus was born, I curse you.
-It's really something, right? -Yes.
It wasn't this extreme, but there was an accident 5 years ago.
A graduate broke into the school.
They burned the teachers' dorm.
That's when this security system was installed.
What happened to them?
Who?
The one who started the fire.
They jumped off the roof.
They left a suicide note saying their 3 years here was a nightmare.
A nightmare...
Then the kids here are inside someone's nightmare.
I threw it out.
-You did? -Yes, I didn't know what it meant.
-So you threw it out? -Why did you stay then?
Because of Riemann's equation.
There's nothing to worry about.
Some loser is playing a stupid joke.
Really?
Fine then.
A loser is doing something stupid.
Let's tell the teacher.
If we tell him, he'll find out who did it for us.
Even if he has to search the security cameras.
How about it?
Let's find the loser who played this joke.
Let's prove that we're all innocent victims.
You can't do it right?
What if it's real?
We'll get penalties and our grades will be lowered.
We won't be recommended.
Why are you all sitting here?
Aren't you going to eat?
Why don't any of you answer?
The innocent one will tell the teacher.
-What? -Nothing?
Did you hear the news?
Say hello.
My name is Kim Yo Han.
I'm sorry. I'll have to inconvenience you until the roads are clear.
-How's you head? -I still feel a little dizzy.
This man is a doctor. He's a psychologist.
You can talk to him about any problems you may have.
I keep having the same dream.
I have a dinging sound that rings in my ears.
See an ENT doctor about that.
[*ENT: is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose and throat]
A ghost keeps chasing me in the dream.
But that ghost is in the nude.
You're lucky!
-Why would you run away? -The ghost is male.
Can you tell me what's wrong?
Should I lie down over here?
-Is this everyone? -Yes.
-Take that! -Stop it!
Did...
you say you're a psychologist?
For now.
Can you tell a person's state by looking at words they've written?
I can even tell their past life.
Sorry, that was a lame joke.
Someone I know... they wrote a kind of poem.
The contents are a little...
Contents that other people shouldn't know about?
Priest and psychologists must keep their subject's secret.
Do you think it's just a joke?
Hating someone that much...
These sorts of emotions aren't easy.
Is it someone you're close to?
A little...
This person is in a dangerous state.
Serious depression and aggression.
This person needs treatment right away.
What did the doctor say?
He said it's not a joke.
The letter... when did you get it?
Yesterday morning.
-Where was it? -In my locker.
Is the letter the reason why you didn't go home?
It's an honor. Someone hates me so much they want to die.
It's polite to be there when it happens, right?
Just leave it.
Put it down.
A little more towards the wall.
If it's wrong, the corner monster could appear.
'You made me into a corner monster.'
[You made me into a corner monster.]
What's that?
A monster who lives in the corner.
Have you ever seen it?
Haven't you?
No.
Then why did you get a letter from the corner monster?
What does it look like?
I don't know.
I've never seen it properly.
Then how do you know it's the corner monster?
One side of its face is blue.
Is it like a fairytale?
That's strange. I heard it's in every house.
Who said that?
My mom.
When did you see it?
Since I was 5. After being kidnapped.
Have you seen it here?
No,
I have a good luck charm.
The blue part on its face... Is it like a birthmark?
Perhaps.
You were really cute.
Just look for a birthmark.
Hopes to be a doctor. Role model is your mother.
Mother?
Most boys write their father as their role model.
[Mother (Lee Hye Jin) Died] [Soo Young]
Why isn't there anyone with a birthmark?
Did Yoon Su lie?
Hallucinations from of his depression, perhaps...
The Corner Monster...
Is there anyone at our school with a blue mark on their face?
No.
He probably doesn't know the faces of his own classmates.
'You deleted me from your eyes.' Is that me?
[You deleted me from your eyes.]
That's the closest to me from the 8 sins.
Then it's all about different people?
It could be either. One person commited 8 sins.
Or it could be separate.
It's separate.
If you come in here without permission, you get minus points.
It was after the fall festival in the 1st year...
You were stalked for a while. Do you remember that?
Someone sent you anonymous letters and you thought someone was watching you.
You said you didn't like it.
When you lost your USB.
[Look in the green training sweats pocket.]
At first, you thought the stalker put in your pocket.
That's wasn't true.
you forgot where you put it and they informed you.
He was watching you the whole time.
To think of what I did back then...
I went running to you right away.
I'm so scared. Can you protect me?
Aren't I cute being scared like this?
You didn't act like that.
I felt quite romantic.
I was like the lead actress who was in a dilemma.
I even had a prince next to me.
So?
Why are you digging into my past romance?
The letter after the USB incident.
You gave it to me without reading it.
I wondered what I should do with it.
I published it in the school paper, under my name.
I thought the stalker would either attack me or just stop.
You didn't receive any more letters after that.
This is it.
[*note: the newspaper says.. 'Soo Shin High School Newspaper]
[To you] [You are bad] [You, who shine even brighter without me,] [Make my darkness so much thicker]
[Your name is bad] [Your name that I cannot call] [It's bad because it fits you so well] [You are bad for laughing] [My false hope becomes a poison] [And makes me diseased]
Why is something that sounds like a stalker's letter in the school newspaper?
If you didn't know it was a stalker, it just reads like a love poem.
Do you think it's a coincidence?
The comment about false hope in both the letter and the paper.
So you are saying that the I ridiculed his false hopes?
[You ridiculed my false hopes.]
'You took the one thing I had and put it around your neck.' That's you.
[You took the one thing that I had and put it around your neck]
Of course the person wants to kill us.
Someone's heart was used as a tool to aid in first love.
I admit it.
That doesn't make sence. 7 recipients, 8 sins.
-It doesn't match up. -No...
There's one among us who commits enough crimes for 2 or 3 people.
Unanimous.
-You piece of... -Jo Young Jae!
Let's see how the 7 of us are related first.
There is one that I can think of.
Okay.
If we start with me...
I was linked to Eun Sung.
I was in Young Jae's class in 1st year. I'm in Yoon Su's class now.
Jae Kyu?
I'm in the same class as Chi Hoon now, but that's it.
Think carefully. Didn't Young Jae ever steal your money?
Maybe he hit you.
-Once at the fall festival. -When did I do that?
Our class ran a sandwich shop. You left without paying.
Whatever... That's nothing.
Even if it feels like nothing, just talk about it.
-Hey! -What happened to you guys?
-Ask him, he hit me. -It's no wonder I beat you.
You keep mouthing off the more I hit you.
I resist more when I am punished.
Young Jae, who are you related to?
-No one except him. -What about Yoon Su?
I heard you could buy a building with the money you took from him.
Tell me everything. We promise to keep it a secret.
You've got to be kidding me!
You've decided it's me and you're trying to fit me in.
Is this a targeted investigation?
If you want to do it properly, start over with you.
Why didn't you mention Chi Hoon?
You try your best, but can never defeat the born genius.
You're Salieri to his Mozart.
You wish he wasn't around. You want to kill him, right?
Chi Hoon.
Aren't you going to have lunch?
Anyway, none of this had better go to the teacher.
Especially you!
Hey, angel. Where were you?
Angels in heaven, men on earth.
Why Yoon Su's nickname angel?
Because he donates. He remodeled the dorms to get into this school.
His nickname is plague.
I'm sure you can tell why.
I thought we were discussing nicknames.
He's still on the loose.
Why do you think he killed?
-Sexual assault? -The murder took place in his own home.
The motive was not money or sexual assault.
-That's not it either. -It was a planned murder.
Similar to the murder of the female student in chuncheon.
Not money, not sexual assault...
-Why did he kill? -Because he was crazy.
Wouldn't his neighbors have known?
Haven't you seen what the neighbors say after the criminal's caught?
'He was always kind and quiet. Why would he do such a thing?'
If you got caught doing that, this is what I would say.
'I knew this would happen one day.'
I don't think you'd say that.
If I did such a thing, you'd be the 1st victim.
Are monsters like him born that way, or are they raised into monsters?
They must have problems, be it natural or learned.
They could have brain malfunctions or some DNA error.
If they were like that from birth, it's not their fault.
It's just a disability.
Is it right to punish them?
If it's the case that they were not born that way...
If their father was an alcoholic, or their mom was irresponsible...
If their criminal personality was formed later, is it their fault?
Do you think that criminals shouldn't be punished then?
They should be punished in order for society to function.
I was just considering whether such ethical, emotional critism is right.
It is.
Why?
Even if he has brain problems or if he was raised in bad conditions...
he chose to kill, even though he knew it's a crime.
If he chose to commit a crime, he should be criticized.
Hormones in a peron's brain...
Sorry I'm late.
Yoon Su.
I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have asked.
It's okay. It's my fault for being born into a rich family.
I have a slight headache.
that's a huge scar.
A stalker cut me once.
Sometimes patients get obsessed with their doctor.
What happened to that stalker?
They're quiet now, but they appear out of the blue sometimes.
There's no fairytale or legend about the monster in the corner.
Nothing overseas either.
Maybe Yoon Su's mother made up that story.
If Yoon Su sent the letters, I can understand.
He's quite unstable and he has reason to hate all of us.
-Reason? -Angel.
We call him that, both in front of him and behind his back.
It's all useless now.
It's here already.
You're the same.
The patients who come to see me are the same way too.
You have something to say, but you can't seem to start.
Then what do you do?
I talk to them. About a film I watched or the weather.
I could talk about the car accident from the other day.
I'd exaggerate a little of course.
I'd say, 'I almost died recently.'
That gets the conversation going.
It was a close call.
How did you feel the moment you almost died?
Over there?
Yes.
What does it look like?
-A child. -A child?
Usually it's a child.
Are there exceptions?
Only once.
When?
On the school camp in 1st year.
Scenes from the past didn't flash before my eyes.
But time slowed down.
As though the scenery outside was moving in slow motion.
As though time was sagging...
Everything was silent.
But I heard a folk song in my head all of a sudden.
Do you understand?
Hide so I can't find you. Hide so I can't find you.
I can see your braids. You're hiding behind the bog pot.
I can see your shaved hair.
Do you remember the face of the child you saw at camp?
What do we do?
Should we tell the teacher?
It's best to remember quickly...
what you did to the monster in the corner.
What did you do?
Me?
Monster in the corner!
I gave it a name. The monster in the corner.
Then it really became a monster in the corner...
If I call it a flower, it becomes a flower...
Eun Sung...
Let's listen to your story.
What about Eun Sung?
The monster likes Eun Sung.
It will probably eat her up.
Hide so I can't find you. Hide so I can't find you.
Not in the garden.
You'll step on the lettuce seeds.
Not in the flower field.
-You'll step on the buds. -Hi!
Not by the fence.
-You'll step on the pumpkins. -'Hey, Kang Mo.'
-Is that so hard? -Hide so I can't find you.
Hide so I can't find you.
I can see your braids.
My bad.
'It's okay.' Is that so hard?
What's with you guys?
The gates to heaven open wide on Christmas.
The worst snowstorm ever and 7 letters.
After seeing the results, things that seem unrelated
come together to form one and unimportant moments
all feel like destiny.
We'd find out later that the monster was already with us.
We'd let the door open for the monster to enter.
Eun Sung's sudden urge to commit suicide was unnatural.
What are you hiding?
There were 2 last year. This year, 7 remained.
It's very interesting here.
Susin High's famous. 'Isolation High School.' 'Prison High.'
I'm interested in you.
Your face when alone and the face in front of others is different.